Simply, Love

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?" Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the law and the prophets hang on these two commandments." (Matthew 22:35-40)

What a simple act Christ asks of us, to love God and each other, yet so many people find this hard or even impossible to do. Their reasons are many and varied. "I won't love something or someone I can't see," says one man. "My neighbor is an idiot! I can't love someone like that!" says another individual.

If love is such a pure, natural and good thing, then why is it so hard for so many of us to do?

In my view, it is because man is a proud creature. We want to believe we are self-sufficient enough to be our own god so that we only have to answer to one being: ourselves. Pride also disallows us from showing our fellow man the grace to be imperfect, even though we ourselves are not perfect. When a neighbor, associate or family relation offends us, we may feel like hating, rather than loving this person enough to pray for him or her, even if that prayer solely is, "Dear God, please help to open her blind eyes!"

Loving each other does not mean we must act as doormats who take on another's verbal or physical abuses. What it does mean is as the verse above suggests, treating others as you yourself wish to be treated. In other words, if we want others to offer us mercy and grace when we have done something stupid, we must likewise be willing to offer them that same kindness. If God forgives us, we too must forgive others.

Regarding one's relationship with God, isn't it ironic that many people who have ignored God, when faced before immediate crisis, usually cry out to Him in despair? "Oh my God!" shouts one woman who just found out her son had been shot. Another person cries out, "Save me God!" when he is stuck in a terrible fire.

You see, my friends, when all is said and done, that is all there really is in this word; God and love. And, since God IS love, love is the perfect response.

Today, won't you bring love into your life by inviting God in to your heart?

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Contributed by Melanie Schurr (Copyright (c)2005 Melanie Schurr) Melanie Schurr is author of "Ecstatic Living Ecstatic Loving: A Christian marriage manual and Life-guide," "Son Salutations" and "Daily Contemplations," which are a collection of read-one-a-day modern inspirations. For more information, visit www.MelanieSchurr.com